April 1, 1939
Columbus Telegram
Organize Search for Cow-Eating “Sea Monster” in Lake Babcock
50 Possemen Seek Huge Reptile That Killed Cow Owned by Herman Meyer
By JACK KINTZI
Loup district officials today hastily organized a “posse” of employes and volunteers to search for a cow-eating “sea monster” that was reported seen twice in Lake Babcock recently by farmers living near the lake and district watchmen.
The “monster” early last evening killed a valuable dairy cow owned by Herman Meyer, farmer who lives on the south shore of the reservoir. Previously it had been seen by Jack Price, sr., district watchman, who reported it to C. B. Fricke, district president, but who felt Price was trying to kid him.
“SOUNDS FISHY”
Fncke today took the lead in organizing the hunt when Meyer phoned he had found the carcass of the cow on the lake shore and come across huge claw-footed prints in the sand from and back to the water.
Fncke still felt there was something “fishy” about the whole thing but when other residents in the seepage area demanded action he immediately organized the “monster hunt.”
Close to fifty armed men were riding in boats, tramping the shore or watching from vantage points with field glasses for the monster.
ADMITS HE WAS STARTLED
Price said it was about 10 or 15 feet long. He got only a glimpse of it, about a week ago when he was on the bridge over the supply canal. He could give no definite description, admitting he was too startled to get a good look.
“I was looking at the water when suddenly something that resembled a tree trunk rose to the surface. I thought that funny, then the “trunk” rolled over and a huge tail slapped the water and the darn thing dived beneath the surface.”
Dr. Reynolds O’Donnell, who was answering a call, drove up just then and stopped when he saw Price seemed ill or shaken.
MEYER WARNS FARMERS
Price told him what he had seen and the doctor drove on wondering. He said Price impressed him with his sincerity, but personally did not believe in “sea monsters.”
Meyer called other farmers along the lake shore and warned them to keep careful watch of their stock.
Otto Heiden. Ed Asche, the Behle brothers and others were contacted by The Telegram, but none reported
having seen the monster, but all said anything that happened on Lake Babcock would not surprise them.
Asked what they would do if the monster killed any of their stock with a flick of its massive tail, they
replied:
Otto Heiden: “I’ll sue.”
Ed Asche: “I’ll sue.”
Behle brothers: “We’ll sue.”
BLAME THE DISTRICT
All contended the district was responsible, intimating the “sea monster” or whatever it was, “was the district’s baby.”
Fred Albert, the Loup’s chief maintenance engineer. said the monster report was a lot of hooey.
“In the first place it couldn’t get into the lake or canal. Trash gates would keep it out.”
He admitted, however, it could have entered when still small and grown to its present size.
“But I still don’t believe it,” he said.
But Herman Meyer wasn’t so sure.
ATTRACTS FLIES
He pointed to the carcass of his cow that attracted a throng of curious and also some flies that braved the cool weather for a bloody feast.
The neck of the animal had been broken.
“It takes quite a blow to break a cow’s neck.” he pointed out logically.
Only a small amount of flesh had been eaten off the animal, but it had not been gnawed. The skin and flesh seemed to have been torn off like a revenous beast would rip it in huge gulps.
Meyer called Lee Daniel, photographer, who shot pictures of the carcass. “Dan” said: “It stinks.”
He did not say whether he meant the story or the carcass.
SEEK “FINGERPRINTS”
Chief of Police Ed Nickolite hastened to the spot and roped off the area around the “monster’s” footprints. With the Tactics learned at the Federal Bureau of Investigation training school, he made wax impressions of the foot or claw prints.
“Looking for fingerprints?” askedwise-cracking spectators.
“Maybe it wore gloves.” cried others.
“Nick” ignored their jibes. “I think I’ve got something.” hesaid. To The Telegram he added: “I’ll probably have a very import-
ant announcement soon.” He did not say whether he had any definite clews (or claws), but seemed very optimistic.
MIGHT BE HITLER
Harold Kramer also was dubious about the sighting of the monster.
“Maybe it was Hitler,” he said.
August Wagner. Loup attorney, pored through dusty law books to seek legal precedent for the case. Finally he found the report he sought. He read out loud from (Kentucky Hydro Electric Co. vs. Woodward 216 Ky. 618. 287 S. W. 985, 989):
“From the standpoint of eminent domain, nolle contcndre in another form causes a violation of guarantees without prior (previa) idemnity based on the lex situs of the status intermin.”
What Wagner meant was that the sea serpent, like all others, didn’t have a leg to stand on.
“We’ll appeal.” he cried. The “posse” up to 3 p. m. had not sighted the monster or come across additional tracks. They were organized in groups of five to eight men. Some were armed with revolvers, clubs or oars, but William Zieg and W. J. Kaufman, noted huntsmen, had deer rifles.
MAY NEED BIGGER BOATS
The searchers were in boats built by Kaufman at Genoa, but were a little afraid. They felt the boats could be flipped over easily by the monster.
“Well, if we don’t find it today, I’ll probably have to build some bigger boats,” said Kaufman cheerfully.
Other searchers groped through the tangled growth of young willow and cottonwood shoots on the Heiden, Behle and Meyer seepage areas.
There was small likelihood of finding the monster there, but anyway, it was a good safe place to hunt even
if the going was gooey. April Fool!